Man of God
Funeral Service—April 28, 1999
Wollaston Church of the Nazarene
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Blessed is the man! The Psalter begins with the profile of a man or woman of God. A holy woman or man is God's crowning masterpiece of creation. Such a masterpiece is always a work of mutual trust and love, on the part of God as well as on the one who is "blessed." Today we celebrate the life of Alvin Harold Kauffman, a man who followed after God, and who came to flesh out that profile of a man of God.
Blessed is the one who eschews evil. Who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful. A godly person cannot be bought. Alvin Kauffman was a good man in that his life was above reproach.
Blessed is the one who delights in God's law. A godly person meets God's good and acceptable and perfect revealed will with joy. The Psalmist could have had Alvin Kauffman in mind when he wrote, "In (God's) law he meditateth day and night!"
Alvin Kauffman was a Christian scholar. A great Christian scholar would embody humility, courage, honesty, kindness, and charity, or love. Dr. Kauffman was a great Christian scholar. He was a man of integrity. I do not know a higher word of honor or commendation.
The quality of integrity is sterling. The "good" goes all the way through and through. A key element of integrity is the virtue of humility. It is particularly precious when it is found in a teacher. "Humility," says one scholar,"is both a spiritual excellence and a pedagogical virtue."
Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: "Some seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge: that is curiosity; others seek knowledge that they may themselves be known: that is vanity; but there are still others who seek knowledge in order to serve and edify others, and that is charity."
As a teacher Dr. Kauffman could challenge students with the problems of philosophy until they could at least grasp some of the complexity of how we think we know what we know. But at the same time he was talking concepts hard to grasp, he was modeling a simple Christian faith that said clearly, "There is reality in knowing Jesus Christ! There is salvation from the guilt and power of sin in trusting Jesus!"
The profile of a godly man closes with the promise: "His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." The result of a life lived out in the seeking after God is both beautiful and fruitful.
There is the unfolding miracle of a family who have caught that same dedication to excellence and holy living from mother and dad, and as long as they live the leaf will not wither, and God's work will prosper. There is the living legacy of students who have been challenged to the highest and best in scholarship, many of whom are now teaching the next generations in that same integrity of spirit.
There are many, many ways this humble man of God served besides his teaching ministry. You have heard some of them already in this service today. We can never tell all that he did. But I need to remember at least one thing more:
When in 1979 the building of this sanctuary was begun Alvin and Alice Kauffman, particularly through the administration of the Elmer Kauffman trust, were the very first to give support that sent us on our way. I have never forgotten that. The descending dove behind me as I speak this morning was Alvin's first and only venture into wood-carving. But his artist's hand, and his artist's have left an imprint in many, many lives and places.
Blessed is the man! "The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous!" When a life is lived to the full in the service of Jesus Christ, there is reason to celebrate as well as to mourn. We cannot help but grieve, for even the Bible says we sorrow in the face of death. But the word is "We do not sorrow as those who have no hope!"
We celebrate a life well lived! We thank God for Alvin Kauffman. We ask God to let something of his mantle fall on us.
But we also seek the comfort and support of our Shepherd in a time of very real loss and sorrow. We close ranks around this wonderful Kauffman family and lift them in our love and prayers to God. We bring our own sense of loss to the Father with thanksgiving for the fact we know He cares.
"The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous!"
Prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, Father of mercies, thank you for your Presence here just now. Thank you for your masterpiece of creation in the life and person of Alvin Kauffman, and for what you have done in him and for him and then through him.
Thank you for the memories we cherish of his life. Thank you for the special love and bonds of cherished memories that only his dear wife and family know. May they be a great source of comfort in the days and weeks and years to come.
Comfort us now as we leave this your house, with the sweet assurance that we will never, ever leave your Presence. You have said You will be with us always. In that promise we rest.
We ask this in the name of our Savior, your only Son, Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray,
Our Father . . . (the Lord's Prayer)